Humidifier unit



M. MENDELSON HUMIDIFIER UNIT Jan. 1, 1957 Filed Jan. 31, 1955 IN V EN TOR.

MORRIS MENDELS o N.

A'r-roRr/EK United States Patent HUMIDIFIER UNIT Morris Mendelson, Detroit, Mich.

Application January 31, 1955, Serial No. 484,928

6 Claims. (Cl. 299-20) The present invention pertains to a novel refrigerator for the storage of foods. The novel refrigerator is suitable especially for short term storage of eggs and will be described in this connection, although not limited thereto.

The refrigerator is of the so-called high temperature type wherein a temperature of about 50 F. is maintained, In fact, when the surrounding temperature drops considerably below 50 F., the device must be warmed, and means for this purpose is provided.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a device for maintaining the humidity required in the storage of foods, especially eggs.

A special problem occurs in the handling of eggs, and another object of the invention is to solve this problem in a simple and efiective manner.

When the eggs are gathered, they should be cleaned before being placed in the refrigerator. However, this operation is often not feasible at this time, and the eggs are immediately placed in the cooler, to be cleaned later. This is the more common procedure. The eggs sweat when removed from the cooler and the process of cleaning with a sanitary brush is difiicult.

The invention provides a tempering compartment into which the eggs may be placed and which does not cause the eggs to sweat when removed. The eggs may now be cleaned without difficulty, and the dairyman has not been required to depart from the usual practice of placing the uncleaned eggs in the cooler.

In the accomplishment of the stated objects of the invention, a novel capillary humidifying unit, the details of which are described below, is provided. The tempering takes place in a separate compartment into which the eggs are placed before being cleaned. This compartment has a pair of adjustable openings to the main chamber of the refrigerator, so that the humidified air is circulated through the compartment.

One of the characteristics of the invention is the use of defrost water in the drip pan for humidification. At the same time, the defrost water is disposed of through re-evaporation.

The invention provides a closed system for re-evaporation of the condensate within a very short time of its formation, and the condensate so evaporated is used for humidification in the manner described.

The invention is fully disclosed by way of example in the following description and in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a vertical section of the device;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4, and

Figure 5 is a detail.

Reference to these views will now be made by use of like characters which are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout.

The refrigerator comprises a cabinet 1 of suitable capacity and shape on which is mounted the conventional ice 2 refrigerating unit. The unit may be placed within the cabinet if desired. It consists of a motor 2 driving a compressor 3 having intake and outlet lines 4 that pass through a radiator 5. The lines are connected to the ends of an evaporation coil 6 suspended or supported in the top of the cabinet 1.

On the sides of the cabinet are secured a number of spaced brackets 7 to support a drip pan 7' below the coil 6. The pan also supports the novel capillary humidifying unit.

This unit is a three-sided wire mesh frame 8 standing vertically and straddling one end of the coil 6. The middle side of the frame, extending across the end of the coil, is formed with rather widely spaced corrugations indicated by the numeral 9. A wick 10 in the form of a capillary cord is wound on the straight sides of the frame 8 and also on the corrugations 9, with adequate spacing between the strands as required. It will also be understood that the dimensions of the frame and the length of wick material thereon are determined according to the requirements of the apparatus.

A blower 11 is directed to blow into the frame 8 and is preferably mounted Within the coil 6. A moistureladen air stream is thus circulated through the cabinet as indicated by the arrows. The defrost water from the coil 6 will be approximately suflicient for the humidifying operation. However, water may be added to the pan 7' or removed therefrom by a conventional overflow as required.

At a suitable distance above the bottom 12 of the cabinet 1 is mounted a horizontal partition 13 forming the tempering compartment. This compartment and the main storage compartment are accessible through the door 16. The partition 13 is formed with an opening 17 spaced a substantial distance apart for proper circulation of the air stream through the compartment 14. The opening 17 is adjustable by a sliding shutter 18 or equivalent means to maintain the desired humidity in the compartment 14.

As already indicated, it is common practice to place the uncleaned eggs in the refrigerator shortly after they have been gathered. Instead of being placed in the usual storage compartment, they are temporarily stored in the tempering compartment 14 of the instant device. When the dairyman is ready to put the eggs away for storage, he removes them from the temper-ing compartment and cleans them. Because of the humidity maintained in the tempering compartment, the eggs do not sweat and therefore involve no additional difficulty in being cleaned.

With regard to more permanent storage in the compartment 15, the relatively high humidity required for many foods and especially for eggs is made available by use of the humidifying unit 810 which has a relatively high capacity in relation to the space that it occupies.

It is now evident that the invention provides a closed system for re-evaporation of the defrost water in the drip pan within a very short time of its formation. The water so evaporated furnishes the additional humidity required for the storage of eggs in the manner set forth.

An electrical outlet 19 is mounted within the cabinet 1 and is wired independently of the door 16. In farm buildings the outside temperature sometimes falls below the desired storage temperature and in such case the interior of the cabinet must be warmed. The necessary heat is furnished by a lamp or a resistant element plugged into the receptable 19.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be understood that various alterations in the details of construction will be made without departing from the scope of the invention as indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A humidifying unit comprising a wire mesh frame member having corrugations from one edge to another, wick material applied to said member, the material on any side of any corrugation being spaced from the ma terial on the other side of the same corrugation.

2. A humidifying unit as set forth in claim 1, said material being applied to both surfaces of said member.

3. A humidifying unit as set forth in claim 1, said material being a capillary cord.

4. A humidifying unit as set forth in claim 1, said material being a capillary cord wound from one surface of said member to the other surface.

5. A humidifying unit as set forth in claim 1, the outer 4 sides of the outer corrugations being prolonged in the same direction to form a three-sided frame member.

6. A humidifying unit as set forth in claim 5,"sai'(l material being a capillary cord.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

